U.S. patent number 7,735,919 [Application Number 11/741,386] was granted by the patent office on 2010-06-15 for safety belt device and seat assembly incorporating the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shun-Min Chen, Kenny Cheng.
United States Patent |
7,735,919 |
Chen , et al. |
June 15, 2010 |
Safety belt device and seat assembly incorporating the same
Abstract
A safety belt device is mounted on a support member that is
formed with a positioning hole, and includes a belt, an anchor
member that permits a first end portion of the belt to extend
therethrough and that is retained removably on the support member
at the positioning hole, and an elastic component connected to the
anchor member and disposed to support a second end portion of the
belt such that the elastic component deforms when a pulling force
is applied on the second end portion of the belt and restores the
belt to an initial state when the pulling force on the second end
portion of the belt is removed.
Inventors: |
Chen; Shun-Min (Taipei,
TW), Cheng; Kenny (Taipei, TW) |
Assignee: |
Wonderland Nurserygoods Co.,
Ltd. (TW)
|
Family
ID: |
39097307 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/741,386 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080157576 A1 |
Jul 3, 2008 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 28, 2006 [CN] |
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2006 2 0164674 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/250.1;
297/484; 297/481; 297/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
15/006 (20130101); B60N 2/2812 (20130101); B60R
22/26 (20130101); B60N 2/2821 (20130101); B60N
2/2866 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/26 (20060101); A47D 1/10 (20060101); B60N
2/28 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;297/250.1,474,484,481 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: White; Rodney B
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ostrolenk Faber LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety belt device configured to be mounted on a support
member including a positioning hole, said safety belt device
comprising: a belt having a first end portion and a second end
portion at an opposite end than the first end portion; an anchor
member positioned and configured to be retained in a selectively
removable manner on the support member at the positioning hole and
to receive said first end portion of said belt such that said first
end portion extends through said anchor member; and an elastic
component connected to said anchor member, said elastic component
having an initial state in which the elastic component presses up
on the belt and configured to support said second end portion of
said belt such that said elastic component deforms to enter a
second state different from the initial state when a pulling force
is applied to said second end portion of said belt, and the elastic
component being configured to restore to the initial state when the
pulling force on said second end portion of said belt is
ceased.
2. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a first engaging unit configured to be positioned on
the support member; and a second engaging unit positioned on said
anchor member and configured to engage removably said first
engaging unit thereby retaining removably said anchor member on the
support member.
3. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
anchor member includes: a housing configured to be inserted through
the positioning hole in the support member and to receive said
first end portion of said belt such that said first end portion of
the belt extends through the housing; a flange positioned on one
end of said housing and configured to abut against one side of the
support member at a peripheral portion defining the positioning
hole; and a resilient arm connected to said flange and positioned
at a lateral side of said housing.
4. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first
engaging unit is a notch unit, and said second engaging unit is a
projection positioned on a distal end of said resilient arm.
5. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a stop ring connected to said first end portion of said belt and
positioned and configured to stop removal of said first end portion
of said belt through the positioning hole.
6. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said stop
ring includes a pair of slots, and said first end portion of said
belt includes a loop segment extending through said slots in said
stop ring.
7. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
second end portion of said belt is positioned on top of said
elastic component.
8. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a protective sleeve enclosing said elastic component and a portion
of said second end portion of said belt.
9. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
anchor member includes a housing configured to be mounted at the
positioning hole in the support member, and said elastic component
is connected integrally to said housing.
10. A safety belt device configured to be mounted on a seat member
that comprising a support member including a plurality of
positioning holes and a plurality of coupling components, each
coupling component positioned at a respective positioning hole of
the plurality of positioning holes, said safety belt device
comprising: a belt having first end portion and a second end
portion at an opposite end than the first end portion; said first
end portion of said belt being extendible through a selected
positioning hole of the plurality of positioning holes and being
retainable removably at the selected positioning hole; an anchor
member positioned and configured to be retained in a selectively
removable manner on the support member at the positioning hole and
to receive said first end portion of said belt such that said first
end portion extends through said anchor member; and an elastic
component connected to said anchor member, said elastic component
having an initial state in which the elastic component presses up
on the belt and configured to support said second end portion of
said belt such that said elastic component deforms to enter a
second state different from the initial state when said belt is
moved from the initial position by a pulling force applied to said
second end portion of said belt, and the elastic component being
configured to restore said belt to the initial state when the
pulling force on said second end portion of said belt is
ceased.
11. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising: a first engaging unit configured to be positioned on
the coupling component; and a second engaging unit provided on said
anchor member and configured to engage removably said first
engaging unit such that said anchor member is retained removably on
the support member.
12. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said
first engaging unit is a notch unit, and said second engaging unit
is a projection that corresponds to said notch unit.
13. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a stop ring connected to said first end portion of said
belt, said stop ring having opposite side edges with dimensions
shorter than corresponding side edges of the positioning holes.
14. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a protective sleeve that encloses said elastic component
and a portion of said second end portion of said belt.
15. The safety belt device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
anchor member includes a housing configured to be inserted through
the selected one of the positioning holes in the support member,
and said elastic component is connected integrally to said
housing.
16. A seat assembly comprising a seat member and a safety belt
device; said seat member comprising a seat portion, a belt fastener
and a support member connected to said seat portion and including a
plurality of positioning holes; said safety belt device comprising:
a belt having a first end portion and a second end portion at an
opposite end than the first end portion; an anchor member
positioned and configured to be retained in a selectively removable
manner on the support member at the positioning hole and to receive
said first end portion of said belt such that said first end
portion extends through said anchor member; and an elastic
component connected to said anchor member, said elastic component
having an initial state in which the elastic component presses up
on the belt and configured to support said second end portion of
said belt such that said elastic component deforms to enter a
second state different from the initial state when said second end
portion of said belt is fastened to said belt fastener and the belt
is thus moved from the initial position, and to enter a second
state different from the initial state said belt to the initial
state when said second end portion of said belt is released from
said belt fastener.
17. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said safety
belt device further includes: a first engaging unit positioned on
said support member; and a second engaging unit positioned on said
anchor member and configured to engage removably said first
engaging unit so as to retain removably said anchor member on said
support member at the selected one of said positioning holes.
18. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said safety
belt device further includes a protective sleeve enclosing said
elastic component and a portion of said second end portion of said
belt.
19. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said anchor
member includes a housing mounted at the selected one of said
positioning holes in said support member, and said elastic
component is connected integrally to said housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Chinese application no.
200620164674.6, filed on Dec. 28, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a safety belt device and a seat assembly
incorporating the same, more particularly to a safety belt device
that is suitable for application to different seat members, that
can be automatically restored to an initial state when released
from a fastened state, and that can be adjusted to suit different
sizes of users to be seated on the seat member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional car safety seat 1
includes a seat base 11, a seat body 12 disposed on the seat base
11, and a safety belt device 13. The seat body 12 includes a seat
portion 121, a pair of lateral portions 122 extending respectively
from opposite lateral sides of the seat portion 121, and a backrest
portion 123 connected to the seat portion 121 and the lateral
portions 122. The safety belt device 13 includes a pair of spring
sleeves 131 that are disposed spacedly on the seat portion 121 and
that are respectively adjacent to the lateral portions 122, a pair
of spring sleeves 132 that are disposed spacedly on the backrest
portion 123 and that are respectively adjacent to the lateral
portions 122, a pair of shoulder straps 133 each extending between
a respective one of the spring sleeves 131 on the seat portion 121
and a respective one of the spring sleeves 132 on the backrest
portion 123 and each provided with a buckle tongue 134, and a
buckle 135 provided on the seat portion 121 to engage removably the
buckle tongues 134.
In an unused state, the spring sleeves 132 on the backrest portion
123 and the spring sleeves 131 on the seat portion 121 extend
upward to tauten the shoulder straps 133, as best shown in FIG. 1.
When a child (not shown) is seated on the seat portion 121, the
shoulder straps 133 can be brought over the shoulders of the child,
and the buckle tongues 134 are subsequently fastened to the buckle
135. At this time, the spring sleeves 132 on the backrest portion
123 deform to bend downward and accumulate a restoring force, as
best shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, when the buckle tongues 134 are
released from the buckle 135, the spring sleeves 132 release the
restoring force accumulated thereby to once again tauten the
shoulder straps 133.
However, since the spring sleeves 132 are fixed at one end on the
backrest portion 123, the heights of the spring sleeves 132 on the
backrest portion 123 cannot be adjusted in order that the shoulder
straps 133 can suit different children to be seated on the seat
portion 121. Moreover, in view of the fixed mounting design of the
safety belt device 13, it cannot be removed for subsequent
application to another seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a
safety belt device that can be mounted removably on varied support
members.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat
assembly with a safety belt device that can be automatically
restored to an initial state when released from a fastened state,
and that can be adjusted to suit different sizes of users to be
seated on a seat member.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a safety belt
device is adapted to be mounted on a support member that is formed
with a positioning hole, and comprises a belt having opposite first
and second end portions, an anchor member that permits the first
end portion of the belt to extend therethrough and that is adapted
to be retained removably on the support member at the positioning
hole, and an elastic component connected to the anchor member and
disposed to support the second end portion of the belt. The elastic
component deforms when a pulling force is applied on the second end
portion of the belt, and restores the belt to an initial state when
the pulling force on the second end portion of the belt is
removed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a safety belt
device is adapted to be mounted on a seat member that has a support
member formed with a plurality of positioning holes and a plurality
of coupling components each disposed near a respective one of the
positioning holes. The safety belt device comprises: a belt having
opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion of
the belt being extendible through a selected one of the positioning
holes and being retainable removably thereat; an anchor member
coupled with the first end portion of the belt and adapted to be
retained removably on the support member by the coupling component
corresponding to the selected one of the positioning holes; and an
elastic component connected to the anchor member and disposed to
support the second end portion of the belt. The elastic component
deforms when a pulling force is applied on the second end portion
of the belt, and restores the belt to an initial state when the
pulling force on the second end portion of the belt is removed.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a seat
assembly comprises a seat member and a safety belt device.
The seat member has a seat portion that is provided with a belt
fastener, and a support member that is connected to the seat
portion and that is formed with a plurality of positioning
holes.
The safety belt device includes a belt having opposite first and
second end portions, an anchor member that permits the first end
portion of the belt to extend therethrough and that is retained
removably on the support member at a selected one of the
positioning holes, and an elastic component connected to the anchor
member and disposed to support the second end portion of the belt.
The elastic component deforms when the second end portion of the
belt is fastened to the belt fastener, and restores the belt to an
initial state when the second end portion of the belt is released
from the belt fastener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional car safety seat,
illustrating a safety belt device in an unfastened state;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional car safety seat,
illustrating the safety belt device in a fastened state;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a
safety belt device according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a car safety seat that incorporates
a pair of the safety belt devices of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another car safety seat that
incorporates the safety belt device of the preferred
embodiment;
FIGS. 6 to 9 are fragmentary schematic partly sectional views to
illustrate mounting and dismounting of an anchor member on a
support member, and retention and removal of a belt from the anchor
member;
FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a car safety seat to illustrate
an unfastened state of the safety belt device of the preferred
embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 10, but
illustrating a fastened state of the safety belt device of the
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a highchair that incorporates the
safety belt device of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stroller that incorporates the
safety belt device of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Before the present invention is described in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted herein
that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals
throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of a safety belt
device 2 according to the present invention is adapted to be
mounted on a support member 22 that is formed with a plurality of
positioning holes 221 and a plurality of coupling components 222
each extending from a hole-defining periphery of a respective
positioning hole 221. The positioning holes 221 can be arranged in
rows or columns. In FIG. 3, the positioning holes 221 are arranged
in a column. Each coupling component 222 is in the form of a
surrounding wall 223 that confines a passage 224. The surrounding
wall 223 has opposite wall parts formed with a first engaging unit
225. In this embodiment, the first engaging unit 225 is exemplified
using a pair of notches that constitute a notch unit. The safety
belt device 2 includes at least one belt 21 (only one is shown in
FIG. 3), at least one anchor member 23 (only one is shown in FIG.
3), and at least one elastic component 24 (only one is shown in
FIG. 3). The belt 21 can be a fabric belt or a leather belt, and
has opposite first and second end portions 211, 212. The anchor
member 23 permits the first end portion 211 of the respective belt
21 to extend therethrough, and is retained removably on the support
member 22 by the coupling component 222 at a selected positioning
hole 221. The anchor member 23 includes a housing 231 that is
inserted through the selected positioning hole 221 in the support
member 22 and into the passage 224 confined by the corresponding
coupling component 222 and that permits extension of the first end
portion 211 of the belt 21 therethrough, a flange 232 formed on one
end of the housing 231 and disposed to abut against one side of the
support member 22 at a peripheral portion defining the selected
positioning hole 221, and a pair of resilient arms 233 connected to
the flange 232 and respectively disposed at opposite lateral sides
of the housing 231. The anchor member 23 further includes a second
engaging unit 234 formed on distal ends of the resilient arms 233.
In this embodiment, the second engaging unit 234 is exemplified
using a pair of projections to engage removably the notches of the
first engaging unit 225, thereby retaining removably the anchor
member 23 on the support member 22. The elastic component 24 is an
upwardly curved flexible body that can be integrally formed or
welded to the housing 231 of the respective anchor member 23
adjacent to the flange 232. The elastic component 24 is disposed to
support the second end portion 212 of the respective belt 21
thereon, i.e., the second end portion 212 of the belt 21 is
disposed on top of the elastic component 24.
The safety belt device 2 further includes at least one stop ring 25
(only one is shown in FIG. 3) connected to the first end portion
211 of the respective belt 21, and at least one protective sleeve
26 (only one is shown in FIG. 3) that encloses the respective
elastic component 24 and a portion of the second end portion 212 of
the respective belt 21. The stop ring 25 is formed with a parallel
pair of slots 251, and the first end portion 211 of the belt 21 has
a loop segment extending through the slots 251 in the stop ring 25.
The loop segment is formed by extending the belt 21 in sequence
through the slots 251 in the stop ring 25, followed by stitching or
application of an adhesive to the belt 21, thereby fixing the loop
segment. The manner of forming the loop segment may vary depending
on the material of the belt 21. In this embodiment, the stop ring
25 is configured with opposite shorter side edges and opposite
longer side edges. The shorter side edges of the stop ring 25 are
shorter than corresponding opposing side edges of the coupling
components 222 and the positioning holes 221 in order to permit
removal of the stop ring 25 from the anchor member 23 and to permit
extension of the stop ring 25 through the passages 224 confined by
the coupling components 222. The longer side edges of the stop ring
25 are longer than the other opposing side edges of the coupling
components 222 and the positioning holes 221 so that removal of the
first end portion 211 of the belt 21 through the positioning holes
221 can be stopped.
FIG. 4 illustrates a car safety seat 3 that incorporates the safety
belt device 2. The car safety seat 3 includes a seat portion 31, a
pair of lateral portions 32 extending respectively from opposite
lateral sides of the seat portion 31, and a backrest portion
connected to the seat portion 31 and the lateral portions 32. The
backrest portion serves as the aforementioned support member 22.
The positioning holes 221 are formed in two columns in the backrest
portion. In FIG. 4, the safety belt device 2 includes a pair of
belts 21. In use, the belts 21 are brought over the shoulders of a
child (not shown) seated on the seat portion 31, and the anchor
members 23 on the belts 21 are retained by the coupling components
222 at selected ones of the positioning holes 221 in the manner
described hereinabove. Since the positions of the anchor members 23
on the backrest portion are adjustable to correspond to the child
seated on the seat portion 31, added comfort is possible.
FIG. 5 illustrates another car safety seat 3 that incorporates the
safety belt device 2. In FIG. 5, there is only one belt 21, and the
belt 21 is extended diagonally over the child (not shown) seated on
the seat portion 31.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the safety belt device 2
further includes a belt fastener or buckle 27 provided on the seat
portion 31, and at least one buckle tongue 28 each provided on the
second end portion 212 of the respective belt 21. The buckle 27 is
formed with at least one tongue hole 271 (there are two tongue
holes 271 in FIG. 4 and one tongue hole 271 in FIG. 5) to receive
removably the buckle tongue 28, and a release mechanism 272 that is
operable to release the buckle tongue 28 from retention in the
tongue hole 271. Since the feature of the present invention does
not reside in the specific constructions of the buckle 27 and the
buckle tongue 28, which are known in the art, further details of
the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, when installing the safety belt
device 2 at a selected positioning hole 221 on the support member
22 (i.e., the backrest portion), the stop ring 25 is first oriented
such that the shorter side edges thereof can pass through the
passage 224 confined by the corresponding coupling component 222 at
the selected positioning hole 221 in the direction indicated by
arrow (I). When the anchor member 23 is inserted into the passage
224 of the corresponding coupling component 222, the projections of
the second engaging unit 234 are forced toward the housing 231 by
the surrounding wall 223 of the coupling component 222, thereby
causing the resilient arms 233 to flex and accumulate a restoring
force. Thereafter, when the projections of the second engaging unit
234 are eventually aligned with the notches of the first engaging
unit 225, the resilient arms 233 release the restoring force
accumulated thereby, thus moving the projections into the notches
in the directions indicated by arrows (II) in FIG. 7 to result in
engagement between the first and second engaging units 225, 234, as
best shown in FIG. 8. At this time, the flange 232 of the anchor
member 23 abuts against the support member 22 at the peripheral
portion defining the selected positioning hole 221. The stop ring
25 is then oriented as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 9 such that the
longer side edges thereof can stop removal of the first end portion
211 of the belt 21 through the selected positioning hole 221. The
anchor member 23 is retained on the support member 22 at the
selected positioning hole 221 at this time. Referring to FIG. 10,
when the buckle tongue 28 on the second end portion 212 of the belt
21 is disengaged from the buckle 27 on the seat portion 31, the
elastic component 24 has an upwardly curving shape, i.e., the
elastic component 24 is in a released state.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when it is desired to fasten a child
(not shown) seated on the seat portion 31 to the car safety seat 3,
the buckle tongue 28 on the belt 21 is brought into engagement with
the buckle 27 on the seat portion 31, thereby resulting in a
pulling force applied on the second end portion 212 of the belt 21
that causes the elastic component 24 to deform to a downwardly
curving shape, i.e., the elastic component 24 is in a force
accumulating state. Thereafter, when the release mechanism 272 is
operated to release the buckle tongue 28 from the tongue hole 271
in the buckle 27, the pulling force on the second end portion 212
of the belt 21 is removed, and the elastic component 24 releases
the restoring force accumulated thereby to resume a former shape
thereof. The elastic component 24 moves the second end portion 212
of the belt 21 away from the support member 22 to restore the belt
21 to an initial state so as to facilitate moving the child from
the seat portion 31 of the car safety seat 3.
To adjust the height of the anchor member 23 on the support member
22, the projections of the second engaging unit 234 are pressed
toward the housing 231 in the directions indicated by arrows (III)
in FIG. 8 to disengage the notches of the first engaging unit 225.
Then, the anchor member 23 is pulled in the direction indicated by
arrow (IV) in FIG. 7 to move the anchor member 23 away from the
support member 22. At this time, the projections of the second
engaging unit 234 are forced toward the housing 231 by the
surrounding wall 223 of the coupling component 222, thereby causing
the resilient arms 233 to flex and accumulate a restoring force.
The resilient arms 233 release the restoring force accumulated
thereby when the anchor member 23 is completely removed from the
coupling component 222. The safety belt device 2 is ready to be
installed on the support member 22 at another positioning hole 221
in the aforementioned manner at this time to adjust the height of
the belt 21 on the support member 22.
The safety belt device 2 of this invention is also adapted for
application to a highchair 4 (see FIG. 12) or a stroller 5 (see
FIG. 13). It is noted that, aside from aligning the positioning
holes 221 in two columns in the support member 22, the positioning
holes 221 can be further aligned in a row on the support member 22
adjacent to a waist portion of a child (not shown) seated in the
highchair 4 or the stroller 5, and the number of the belts 21 can
be increased to four, wherein two of the belts 21 serve as shoulder
straps retained on selected ones of the positioning holes 221 in
the two columns by corresponding anchor members 23 for extension
over the shoulders of the seated child, and the other two of the
belts 21 serve as waist straps retained on selected ones of the
positioning holes 221 in the row by corresponding anchor members 23
for extension over the waist of the seated child. Each of the belts
21 can be fastened to a belt fastener or buckle 27. Therefore, not
only are the shoulders of the child positioned, the waist of the
child is positioned as well to enhance safety. The belts 21 are
also adjusted through retention of the anchor members 23 at
appropriate ones of the positioning holes 221 to correspond not
only to the height of the child but also to waist dimensions of the
child.
It has thus been shown that, through the removable retention of the
anchor member 23 on the support member 22 in the safety belt device
2 of this invention, the position of the belt 21 can be easily
adjusted to suit different users. In addition, through the elastic
component 24, the belt 21 can be easily moved once the buckle
tongue 28 is unfastened from the buckle 27 so as not to interfere
with body movement, thereby resulting in added convenience.
While the present invention has been described in connection with
what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it
is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *